What Happens at a Quilt Retreat

What really happens at a quilt retreat? I have taught at many, but never went as a retreater, so what really happens at a retreat? Well people, I decided it was time for this old girl to find out for myself.

I didn't know what to expect, and if I am being honest I was having that "what was I thinking" thoughts as I drove. But what did I find? What did I walk into? I will start with telling you how I got myself into this, then I will tell you what I expected, and then I will tell you what I experienced.

How it started

My journey started really years ago. As a Handi Quilter National Educator we are located all over the country (world really) and usually don't work with the other educators except on rare occasions. There was an educator in Indiana that during our time as educators never had the opportunity to work together, but we knew who each other were from the annual training we would attend. Enter Harriet Carpanini from Madison Indiana. (You can find her on social media as "Quilting with Harriet" - you should check her out as she is a very talented quilter!). Several years ago she bought her first embroidery machine and was asking questions on social media - don't we all turn to our facebook family for help when we have questions? I messaged her and told her about a Youtube channel ((72) Power Tools with Thread - YouTube) run by Becky Thompson. I learned so much from her when I got my first embroidery machine and then again when I got my 10-needle so of course I would recommend her to a "friend".

Fast forward to two years ago and I decided I wanted to make a quilt from my bucket list - New Baltimore Christmas Quilt by P3 designs. But it is APPLIQUE!! Can I say I hate applique. But this is a bucket list item so I need to just suck it up and do it right??? This will be a family heirloom ... just stop complaining and do it!!

Applique ... did I mention I hate it mostly becuase I am not good at it. So I am going to take a class on applique to make sure I am set up for success. August 2024 I go with a dear friend to Lancaster quilt show and take a class. Now what I am about to say is NOT a reflection on the instructor! I HATE APPLIQUE AND I AM NOT GOOD AT IT and this class just confirmed it. I guess I won't make my bucket list quilt.

But I am not a quitter so how do I learn applique? Back to Youtube it is. After all can't we learn everything on youtube. Who should I find teaching a unique approach to applique - no other than Becky Thompson of Power Tools With Thread (you should look her up on Facebook or her web site www.powertoolswiththread.com). I think she can't spell because she spells it Snapplique. I am not judging because I can't type most days either - all I care about is she is doing applique but not the traditional method that results in the creation of lots of new 4 letter words. Spell it however you want - I am not 7 videos deep into her process and convinced I can do this.

If you have never heard of Snapplique, you need to look into it! It is an actual copyrighted phrase by Becky Thompson for her process that allows you to take a paper applique pattern, utilize a scan n cut to scan and cut your pieces, and software to convert the paper pattern to convert it to an embroidery machine file so it is stitched out perfectly. Wait - NO new 4 letter words??? I think I can do this and I can actually do my bucket list quilt and not have it end up as a dog bed or moving blanket one day.

Snapplique Playlist in Youtube

But how does Harriet fit into this - lets get back to her - at this same time I notice she is posting things on her social media using Snapplique so I message her asking her to tell me more. Just like all "friends" she took my call and we chatted and now I am trying Snapplique myself watching youtube, texting Harriet stupid questions and feeling more confident with each project.

I find out through social media (isn't that how we find out everything) that Harriet is hosting a quilt retreat in Holton Indiana and the teacher is Becky Thompson and it is going to be a hands on session on everything Snapplique. SIGN ME UP!! ... but wait - I waited so long it is full :( . I texted Harriet telling her how disappointed I was that I didn't learn about this earlier and I can't wait to hear all about it. I moved on and tried to avoid that FOMO feeling - but wait Harriet texts me the week before the retreat ... she has a cancellation!!!! It took me about 30 seconds to say do you take Venmo or Paypal.

What I expected

I honestly went in thinking I was about to spend 3 days with a group of ladies that I didn't know, probably all knew each other or were connected somehow, and now I am going to spend 3 nights in a retreat center eating, sleeping, sharing bathrooms with, and living with a bunch of people that I did not know and would probably never see or hear from again. But I didn't care!!! I have my bucket list quilt I am thinking about and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from the creator of the process.

What I experienced

I experienced the nicest group of "strangers" that within hours of being there were no longer strangers. We had people from at least 9 states, we had best friends since they were young children, we had a mother and daughter, and a few ladies from the same quilt guild there. We were a group of ladies that had the passion to learn Snapplique from Becky in common and we started out as strangers, but I left having made lifetime friends! We exchanged phone numbers, connected on social media, and are already planning a reunion in October to get together just to sew.

I admit I went unprepared as I had never been to a retreat. If you go to a retreat know that most of the people take small "gifts" for the other quilters. I apologize to my campers for not knowing this - I will do better next time!

The retreat was hosted at Beach Country Retreat in Holton Indiana. We had the nicest hosts. They provided us with 3 home cooked meals each day (and I don't mean PBJ sandwiches - I mean they cooked full meals). If you ever need to find a bargin of a retreat center to host an event you should consider them!

The snack table was to die for. Homemade cookies and brownies, candy, popcorn, etc. You name it and it was on that table. Nobody went hungry and lesson learned - don't sit at the table right beside the snack table or you will gain 10 lbs while you are there!

Obviously the highlight was the experience to learn from the best in Becky! She started out by saying something that really connected with me since I am also an educator - she started off by telling us that we all learn differently, and we all teach differently. The important thing is that we find someone that we connect with in their manner of teaching and our manner of learning. I knew I connected with Becky's way of teaching or why else would I have gone back to her youtube channel for 3 different topics now. Clearly it was because she presents things in the manner in which I learn!

Harriet outdid herself in putting this together. She had kits made for each of us so we didn't have to do prep work (that had to be a task in itself!!), she had reached out to vendors and got door prizes. Did all of the planning for this event, and went out of her way during the event to tend to everyones needs. She put on a class event!!!

Now I am starting my journey on my New Baltimore Quilt using Becky's process of Snapplique. In full transparency, that is a copyrighted term and my web page is not allowing me to mark it as such but Becky if you ever read this I want to make sure I am not infringing on your term here!! I do however want to use the proper terms so others can find your process as too.) I do plan to document my journey with this quilt and share regulare updates both here and on youtube so if you are interested in following along and seeing if this ends up a dog blanket or family heirloom please subscribe here and on youtube

Oh yeah ... one last thing - did you notice when I reference Harriet I called her "friend" in quotes. Well she started out as someone that I just knew in passing through Handi Quilter, and I probably would have just called her an acquaintance ... I now consider her a true friend! I am happy to have left this retreat with 31 new FRIENDS! If you ever get a chance to do a retreat I hope you take it!